DAVIDSON — Roger Goodell, commissioner of the National Football League, has always felt at home in Davidson.
In the midst of a busy NFL season, he jumped at the opportunity for a quick visit to the small community just south of the Iredell County line.
Goodell was on the Davidson College campus Monday to dedicate the new Vann Center for Ethics, which serves as the centerpiece for Davidson's belief in its student-run honor system.
"We have a lot of very dear friends here," Goodell said in an interview with the R&L. "I thought this was a great opportunity to come back and talk to some of the students. My brother went here, so this school means an awful lot to us."
The role of ethics, especially as it pertains to sports — and the NFL, in particular — is especially important to Goodell.
"I think it comes into everybody's line of work or their daily life," Goodell said. "Everything you do has honor and integrity and credibility. Sports are no different. We recognize that in the NFL, we owe it to our fans and our partners to represent ourselves in a positive way."
Since taking the role as commissioner in September 2006, Goodell has overseen one of the most popular eras in NFL history.
He's faced issues like safety, needs of retired players, revenue sharing and an explosion of NFL growth in international markets, and spoke with the R&L about a variety of issues the league faces.
High on his ever-growing list of priorities is continuing to develop and grow the NFL to an international market.
The league has played a regular season game in London the last three seasons and continues to search for avenues to reach a broader fan base.
"Our job is to bring more football to more people," Goodell said. "We still believe there are growth opportunities here in the U.S., and in Canada and Mexico. But everywhere we've taken NFL football, we've had a tremendous reaction. So we're responding to that. Our experience in London has been extraordinary, and we're thinking about expanding that series to play two games in the UK next year.
"As long as they continue to want more, we're going to try to figure out how to bring more."
Goodell spent part of his day in town visiting with Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson.
Richardson, one of league's most beloved figures, has been out of the public spotlight for most of the season after receiving a heart transplant in February.
"I was in a meeting with him for two hours and had lunch with him today, and he's doing great," Goodell said. "He's making tremendous progress. Panthers fans should feel fortunate to have him.
He's one of the greatest people I know. He has contributed so much to the league and means so much to me personally."
Goodell arrived on Davidson's campus in the afternoon for the 4 p.m. dedication ceremony, and was scheduled to make his official speech at 7 p.m.
The Vann Ethics Center is the product of a donation from Jim and Lee Vann. Jim Vann graduated from Davidson in 1950 and spoke to a gathered crowd around 4 p.m. before the official unveiling.
"Lee and I believe that the Honor Code tradition that is integral to Davidson provides a strong basis for a successful ethics program," Jim Vann said. "We are honored to be a part of this."
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